Song Brown Primary Care Residency (PCR)

The Primary Care Residency (PCR) grant is administered by the California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) through the Song-Brown Healthcare Workforce Training Program. Its primary objective is to increase access to care in medically underserved areas by supporting the training and education of primary care residents. This funding opportunity targets accredited residency programs in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pediatrics, including both traditional residency structures and Teaching Health Centers (THCs). The initiative aligns with the mandates of the Song-Brown Health Care Workforce Training Act, with statutory priorities such as graduating residents who serve in areas of unmet need, increasing representation of underrepresented groups in medicine, and locating training sites in communities with a high proportion of Medi-Cal recipients. For the upcoming 2026 application cycle, approximately $31 million in state funds will be available across several award categories. These include support for existing PCR slots ($18.6 million), Teaching Health Center slots ($5.6 million), expansion of programs approved for increased slots ($3.3 million), and new residency programs ($3.3 million). Applicants can request up to $125,000 per first-year resident for existing or THC slots, $300,000 per new expansion slot (up to three), or up to $1,000,000 for new programs. New programs that are able to provide a 25% funding match may request up to $2,000,000. Importantly, programs applying for new program funding—whether with or without a match—are ineligible to apply for other award types during the same cycle. Grant funds must be used to expand access to primary care services and cannot be used to replace existing federal, state, or local funds. Funded residency programs are expected to demonstrate a commitment to training in medically underserved, multicultural, or rural communities and to implement programmatic strategies that increase the likelihood of graduates remaining in those areas. These strategies include targeted recruitment of residents likely to serve in high-need areas, offering rotations and preceptorships in such locations, and supporting career placement post-residency. Programs must also address cultural responsiveness in training, maintain diverse selection committees, and incorporate equity-focused curriculum components. The grant application requires comprehensive documentation, including program data, descriptions of training sites, aggregate resident and graduate statistics, and narrative responses regarding strategies for recruitment, admissions, support, and retention. Programs must submit their application using the state’s online grant portal (https://funding.hcai.ca.gov/), where registration is required. A complete application must follow the Grant Guide's format and include all required components such as assurances, executive summaries, faculty qualifications, and program strategies tailored to address areas of unmet need. The 2026 application cycle is forecasted to open on June 18, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Programs submitting by the early review deadline of July 20, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. will receive feedback and an opportunity to revise. The final deadline for submissions is August 3, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Awards are expected to be announced in December 2026. Grant performance periods vary depending on award type, ranging from April 1, 2027, through as late as November 30, 2029. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the 2025–26 PCR Grant Guide, the Technical Assistance Guide, and attend informational webinars hosted by HCAI. For inquiries, applicants may contact program staff at [email protected] or by phone at (916) 326-3700.

Emphasize AUN clinical placements, URM recruitment, and payer mix showing high Medi-Cal/uninsured percentage. Strong evaluation alignment improves competitiveness.